Posted on

Chilly Dogs – Winter Skin & Coat Care

“Maybe we should keep his hair long this time… It’s just so cold out!”

“I think we’re going to skip Fluffy’s next visit. I don’t want her to get too cold.”

“I don’t think Fido should get a bath while it’s this cold outside.”

It is a very common misconception that dogs don’t need grooming in the wintertime, but when the air gets cold and wet is arguably the most important time to have your dog in to the groomer.

When temperatures drop, central heating comes on, warming our homes and keeping us comfortable and safely protected from the frigid air outside. However, when we turn on the heat, we also lose a lot of the moisture in the air.

When your dog is going out into the cold and wind to relieve himself, just to come back into the dry heated air of the house multiple times a day, that back and forth between temperatures and environments can cause issues for the skin and coat. Just as wintertime can mean dry skin for you, it also leads to flaky, itchy skin for your dog.

It is commonly believed that dogs should not be bathed when the weather is cold or snowy. This is because bathing a dog strips the natural oils from his coat, leaving him even dryer and less protected than before. While it’s not untrue that bathing a dog can dry out the skin and coat, if the proper products are being used dogs can be washed frequently without repercussion.

At Clover Pup Salon, our shampoos are all salt free. Shampoos that use salts as fillers are drying to the skin, coat, and eyes. By removing the sulfate, these shampoos are not as damaging to the hair or skin as many pet products currently on the market.

All of the shampoos used at Clover Pup Salon contain  chamomile and aloe vera to return moisture into the skin and hair and are gentle enough to use regularly.

If your pet is showing signs that the dry air is causing real discomfort, let us know when you drop your pet off for their visit. In the case that simply moisturizing and conditioning the coat isn’t enough, we have a shampoo containing flax seed and tea tree oils to combat itching, and a soothing oatmeal shampoo with cucumber and lavender to calm red, swollen skin.

Any time there is any behavioral change in your pet, it’s important to discuss those changes with both your veterinarian and your groomer so that your pet can continue to get the care and handling that they deserve.

Another reason you want to make sure your pet is getting to the groomer despite the cold is to maintain the effectiveness of the insulating properties of your dogs undercoat.

Double coated dogs lose hair at all times of the year. The dead hair becomes tangled or interwoven in the healthy coat, which can destroy the natural insulation the coat is intended to provide, which can in turn lead to issues like dandruff, itching, and an excessive amount of shedding.

A clean, well groomed coat naturally provides the insulation that aids in keeping your pet warm through the chilly winter months.

At Clover Pup Salon, double coated dogs have the option to a deshedding treatment with their salon visit at no additional charge. While this treatment does not stop a pet from shedding entirely, we do go through a process that removes a great deal of this dead hair for you, opening up the undercoat, and clearing out the dead tangled hair to allow for proper insulation.

Even dogs without double coats can benefit from being regularly brushed out by the groomer. Both brushing and the deshedding process stimulate the natural oil glands in the dog’s skin to help remoisturize naturally, and removes dead hair and skin cells, allowing dry skin the opportunity to repair itself.

Another misconception? That keeping your pet’s hair longer will keep them warmer. While a well kept long coat can aid in keeping your dog toasty, a coat that is too long or one that isn’t well maintained can actually cause more problems than it’s solving.

Many long coats can benefit from at least a light trimming during the winter to keep longer belly and leg hair from dragging through snow, ice, and chemicals designed to melt away these elements. Keeping hair trimmed to a length that keeps it out of the snow helps to keep your dog much more comfortable.

While we understand the thought process of keeping a fuller coat through colder months, matted hair does not help your dog get through the winter comfortably.

Matted fur provides no real insulation, and causes pain, discomfort, and hot spots. Once wet, mats can take hours to dry again, leaving your dogs hair and skin wet and cold for most of the day, and these wet tangles provide excellent breeding grounds for infection, bacteria, and parasites.

If you are noticing mats starting to form on your pup, give us a call and get your dog in for a visit. If matting is dealt with early enough, we can gently remove them and leave the dog with a longer, fuller coat.

If the matting is getting to a point where it doesn’t seem like it can be comfortably taken care of, then it is definitely time to get your dog to the groomer for a haircut, even in cold weather. Dressing a clipped dog in a coat or sweater is much better for the dog than keeping the hair long and matted.

Plus, some of the pet clothing available is absolutely adorable!

To ensure optimum comfort for your dog, make sure the coat or sweater covers them from the neck all of the way down to the base of the tail, and that it provides a good amount of belly coverage without being soiled when they relieve themselves. Also make sure that the clothing item does not hinder your dog’s range of motion, and that they can walk, sit, stand, and lay down normally.

Always make sure to remove the sweater when you bring your dog back into the house. A cold, wet sweater is no better than cold, wet matting.

Visiting the groomer at all times of the year helps keep your pet comfortable and healthy. Does you pet need a winter appointment? Call 262-583-3155 to set one up today!

Posted on

Low Stress Dog Grooming

“I love what you’ve done with your home here,” she exclaimed as she walked in the front door.

I smiled with my head cocked and welcomed this new client into the salon.

She reddened and laughed. “I mean… I know it’s not your house…. but it feels like a home!”

If it’s true that “Dogs are Man’s Best Friend”, why are they so often subjected to scary, uncomfortable situations? Grooming salons that are poorly lit or kept unclean can expose your pets to potential injury or illness. Shops that are small, crowded or heavily booked create stressful environments for clients, dogs, and the groomers working there.

When it came time to create a grooming shop of our own we thought: Why not create a salon experience that feels more like a human salon visit? Or an in-home grooming without the mess of having your dog groomed in your bathroom?

And from those few questions, Clover Pup Salon went from an idea to a low-stress dog grooming environment.

So, what makes a “low stress grooming environment”?

When clients first walk into Clover Pup Salon, they are greeted not by the smell of wet dog, but the calming scents of Lavender, Tea Tree, Lemongrass, Rosemary and Chamomile.

They are not accosted by the sounds of blaring music or frantically barking dogs. Clover Pup Salon plays quiet, calming music, and makes every effort to either quiet noisy dogs, or schedule them one-on-one appointment times to keep them from causing stress to other clients and their pets.

Our history has always carried a heavy emphasis on using low stress-handling techniques with a great deal of time spent working with our most vulnerable four-legged clients; young puppies, elderly dogs, and pets with disabilities. In our dealings with these animals, we’ve learned that patience, kindness, and a calm demeanor always work better than manipulating the pet to get the job done as quickly as possible. Dogs that are handled with grace and dignity are calmer themselves throughout the process, and tend to be happier to return to the salon than those who are rushed through their services.

When opening Clover Pup Salon, we wanted to make sure our clients were being treated to the best products available. After a lot of research, meeting with many different companies, and testing products on our own pets, we found a complete line of shampoo that meets a wide variety of pet care needs, as well as our own high standards.

When a pet comes in to Clover Pup Salon, we evaluate their skin and coat with their owner to determine which of our twelve essential oil infused shampoo and conditioning options are best for that specific dog.

Puppies are bathed in a milk-and-honey shampoo that is designed specifically for their sensitive baby skin, while double coated dogs are washed in a deshedding shampoo that adds sheen and softness while removing undercoat. An oatmeal shampoo enhanced by aloe, lavender, and cucumber may be the right option for irritated skin, while an itchy dog would do better with a Tea Tree shampoo to relieve dry skin while reducing swelling and redness.

With a dozen options available, our hypoallergenic, tear-free, sulfate-free shampoos will have something that works for your pet.

When it comes time to get in the tub, dogs visiting Clover Pup Salon are treated to a temperature-controlled warm water massaging bath in one of three different bath tub options. A low, walk-in tub provides a safe option for large dogs, or those with knee and hip trouble to get in and out without added risk of injury. A higher level standing tub is perfect for mid-sized dogs to be cleaned, and a small, enclosed style tub creates a safe, cozy spot for puppies or very small dogs to feel secure during the wash.

Dogs or puppies coming into the Salon for a bath are treated to more than just a scrub down. During their cleaning, pups faces are cleaned with a tearless apricot facial designed to clean gently and reduce tear staining. Following their bath, pets at Clover Pup Salon also receive a thorough brush out and light dematting, and double-coated or short haired breeds get a free deshedding treatment and thinning out of undercoat. Cleaned pets then have their nails trimmed and buffed, ears cleaned and conditioned (and plucked if needed), with a trim and tidy of the feet, face, and sanitary areas. (And in the case of dogs with features like Miss Maple’s, they also get a light powder in the folds to protect these very sensitive areas and to assist in the prevention of yeast or infection)

For dogs in need of more than just a wash, visitors to the Salon receive, in addition to everything listed above, the creation of a traditional, contemporary, comfort, or completely one-of-a-kind look that fits the preference of the pet owner, and the personality of the pup. Clover Pup Salon is proud to provide cuts and styles that adhere to breed standard, owner request, or customer creations designed specifically for the dog on the table.

Following a bath or groom, your sweet pup will never be put into a cold wire cage or enclosed plastic carrier to wait for your return. Finished pets at Clover Pup Salon either stand up at the counter with their groomer to await your arrival (in the case that no other dogs are present in the salon), or they are put into a size appropriate playpen with blankets and bedding. Even in a low-stress situation, going to the salon is an exciting event that shakes up a pet’s routine and can leave them exhausted. What better way to follow up a nice warm bath than with a quick nap?

If you have questions about any of our handling techniques or services, please don’t ever hesitate to ask. We can be reached by email at CloverPupSalon@gmail.com or by phone at 262-583-3155.